If you are a frequent Instagram user, chances are you may have noticed some posts in your feed with a small shopping bag icon, tucked in the lower left-hand corner.
This is Instagram's Shop feature, which includes products offered by hundreds of brands and retailers across the world — and it's a wise investment from the social media platform.
Analysts told Business Insider that Instagram's move to shopping will be so successful that it will generate $10 billion in revenue by 2021.
Using the Shop feature is easy, too. Any post with a shopping bag icon has a product or products linked to it — just tap on the product name, and you're taken to the description page where you can save it for later, or buy it now.
Some products are available to purchase without even leaving the app, while others take you to the retailer's website to finalize the transaction.
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How to use the Shop feature on Instagram
Some retailers partner with Instagram to provide a check-out process within the app. Most of those retailers are featured on Instagram's @shop account.
Here's how to use it.
1. Launch the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.
2. In the search bar, type in @shop or visit the page by clicking here, or locate any other account with featured products.
3. Scroll through the @shop feed and find the item you wish to purchase, or find a specific product post from another account, designated by a small shopping bag icon at the lower left-hand corner of a post.
4. Tap the photo to reveal the item name and price. Select it.
5. In the product description page, you can choose the color and size of the item.
7. Once you've finished, tap "Proceed to Checkout."
8. If you are new to Instagram's shop feature, the app will ask you to enter your contact information, shipping address, and credit card information.
9. After you've filled in the details, select "Place Order" to buy. Shipping details will then be sent to you via email.
Sometimes, you will have to exit the Instagram app to complete a purchase. If this is the case, you'll tap "View on Website" in the product description page.
This will take you to the brand's website where you can make changes, choose a size, and buy.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
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How to get your account verified on Instagram using the mobile app
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How to contact Instagram for help with your account, or to report other accounts
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How to edit an Instagram post to change the caption, tag people, add a location, or edit the 'alt text'
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How to delete your Instagram account on an iPhone, or temporarily disable it
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